The London Borough of Bexley strongly opposes the Mayor’s proposed charges for the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels, urging equity with west London. The Council calls for better public transport investment, clearer concessions for residents, and strategic infrastructure improvements to support the Borough’s growth and reduce reliance on cars.
The London Borough of Bexley has strongly opposed the Mayor’s plans to introduce charges for drivers using the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels, voicing concerns that the charges would contribute to creating a ‘two-tier city.’ The Council is lobbying for greater equity with west London, where no river crossing charges currently exist.
Bexley Council insists that if charges are to be implemented, they should be accompanied by a more comprehensive package of concessions, including extending resident discounts to adjacent boroughs like Bexley, and providing clearer information on the duration of the charges. The Council also stresses the need for improved public transport options, particularly for cross-river journeys, as part of a broader strategy to reduce reliance on cars and support growth in the Borough.
The Council has long advocated for enhanced investment in public transport, with low connectivity seen as a major barrier to economic development in Bexley. The Borough’s transport priorities include new strategic links, such as an extension of the Elizabeth Line eastward from Abbey Wood and a Docklands Light Railway (DLR) extension to Belvedere. The Council also calls for improvements in local connections, including rapid bus services, cycling infrastructure, and walking routes. However, Bexley’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Richard Diment, argued that the current proposals for the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels fail to address these needs.
“We are deeply concerned about the proposals as they stand,” said Diment. “We need more information from Transport for London (TfL) and a broader commitment to public transport investment. It seems that Bexley’s residents have once again been overlooked by TfL. People living on the east side of London should have the same access as those in the west when crossing the Thames. Our transport priorities are clear and essential for reducing car dependency for work-related journeys.”
The Council is requesting additional technical information regarding the proposals, including traffic modeling, the calculation of charges and discounts, and how the impact of the tunnel charges will be monitored over time. Without this critical information, Bexley argues that it cannot provide a full, informed response.
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